Henry d



(No Model.)

H. D. KEITH.

RAOK.

No. 555,045. Patented P55. 18, 1896.

. N rnn STATES i ATENT OFFICE.

IIENRY'D. KEITH, or MANSFIELD, 01110.

RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,045, dated February 18, 1896.

v Application filed November 30, 1895. Serial No- 570,64Z. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY D. KEITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mansfield, in the county of Richland and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Racks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The present invention has for its object to provide a rack for holding any suitable objects, such as railroad or other tickets, small hand-books, envelopes, but more especially adapted for holding manifold sales or order books used in grocery stores; and the invention consists in a rack constructed substantially as shown in the drawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure 1 of the drawings represents a perspective view of a rack constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a detail view, on an enlarged scale, showing the divisionplates connecting with the separating-brace and a book in position between the plates in dotted lines; Figs. 3 and 4, a detail view in perspective of a portion of one of the division -plates and separating brace, showing them disconnected from each other.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the rack of any suitable height, width, or dimensions and of any desirable material and is preferably of the form shown. A series of division-plates B, of, suitable sheet metal, extend transversely the entire width of the rack and at their lower ends have a rightangle bend to form a horizontal supportingflange a or bottom of the compartment within which the book or other object is placed. The flange a also forms a means by which the several division-plates B may be securely fastened together at intervals throughout their length by solder or otherwise, whereby the same will possess sufficient strength to sustain the weight of the books or other objects to be held. The several division-plates B are further strengthened and sustained in their relative position by means of the braces C, which braces may be of wood or other preferred material and extend the entire height of the rack and are fastened. at their ends to the rack in any desirable manner.

The braces 0 separate the compartments and are arranged a suitable distance apart so as to give to said compartments the desired width to receive the sale or order books which are to be placed therein.

The braces C have slots 1) in number to correspond with the number of division-plates B and receive the upper ends of said plates to hold them stationary, the braces being of any width found best adapted to the purpose and are seated in notches 0 formed in the plates.

The plates B are of sufficient width to bend the upper portion upon itself, as shown at d, and thence outward to form a curved spring D, the lower end of the spring extending inward, as shown at e in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The springs D hold the books securely within the compartments and also separate the books so as to allowa sufficient space between them for the insertion of the fingers when removing the same.

The bending of the plate upon itself, as shown at d, prevents any sharp edge of the metal coming in contact with the book and cutting it when it is being inserted in the compartment and allows the full space between the division-plates for the lower end of the book when entering the compartment.

The division-plate B with its flange a and springs D are formed from a single piece of metal, or, in other words, are integral with the plate by bending the metal thereof as hereinbefore described. lVith reference to the springs, this feature of the invention presents many advantages over the springs formed separately and afterward attached to the plates. WVhere the springs are formed separate and not integral with the plate, it would require an independent spring for each compartment and the necessity of securing them in place on the plates by rivets or other fastenings. This would not only add materially to the cost of manufacture of the racks and render them very expensive to place upon the market but to the liability of the springs becoming loose from their fastenings and their effectiveness destroyed. The springs formed integral with the plate throughout its ISO length by bending the metal in the form shown provides a spring for each eo1npart ment along the length of the plate, enabling the plate and springs to be manufactured at a comparatively small cost without the necessity of weakening the springs by fastening them to the plate, as would be the case were the springs made separately.

The several compartments may be numbered or lettered as found preferable, and any numberof compartments may be used, and any changes or modifications in the details of construction such as would come within ordinary skill may be resorted to Without departing from the principle of the invention.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A rack consisting of a suitable frame, a plurality of transverse division-plates oi. sheet metal which are notched upon their upper edges, suitable slotted braces engaging with the plates and seated in the notches, said division-plates bent at their upper ends to form a plurality of downwardly-extending curved springs, whereby a spring is provided for each compartment throughout the length of the plate that will be integral therewith, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY D. KEITH.

\Vitnesses ALEX. S. STEWART,

1120. M. COPENHAVER. 

